We have measured the magnetoresistance and the magnetic-field dependence of the 1/f noise in thin Ag films over the temperature range 1–25 K. Fits of the data to the theories of weak localization and universal conductance fluctuations, respectively, yield two independent estimates of the phase-breaking length ${\mathit{L}}_{\mathrm{\phi }}$. These two estimates of ${\mathit{L}}_{\mathrm{\phi }}$ are in general agreement in overall magnitude and temperature dependence, but there is a noticeable discrepancy at 1.0 and 4.4 K. We believe that this discrepancy is significant, and may point to an inadequate treatment of electron-electron interactions in the present theories.

• Received 28 January 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.47.16667